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Monthly archives for March, 2010

There’s a Writer’s Tour in the Air!

Mar31
2010
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For those of you who don’t know, I’m the founder and manager of VBT Writers on the Move. We’re a group of author’s who utilize cross-promotion to increase our readership and visibility.

What is especially great about the monthly writers’ tours we have is that we make sure we provide valuable writing and marketing information along with great fiction and nonfiction book updates.

Tomorrow begins our April 2010, A Writer’s Life Tour. Each day we’ll feature a writer; check out the schedule below:

1st Dianne Sagan is featuring Liana Metal
2nd Karen Cioffi is featuring Brigitte Thompson
3rd Kathy Stemke is featuring Katie Hines
4th Lea Schizas is featuring Janet Ann Collins
5th Vivian Zabel is featuring Debra Eckerling
6th Nancy Famolari is featuring Dana Donovan
7th Margaret Fieland is featuring Heidi Thomas
8th Elysabeth Eldering is hosting Margaret Fieland
9th Helena Harper is featuring Heather Paye
10th Liana Metal is featuring Helena Harper
11th Carolyn Howard-Johnson is featuring Dallas Woodburn
12th Gayle Trent is featuring Vivian Zabel
13th Kari Wolfe is featuring Marietta Taylor
14th Marvin Wilson is featuring Karen Cioffi
15th Stephen Tremp is featuring Darcia Helle
16th Darcia Helle is featuring Dianne Sagan
17th Martha Swirzinski is featuring Elysabeth Eldering
18th Heidi Thomas is featuring Gayle Trent
19th Dana Donovan is featuring Mayra Calvani
20th Dallas Woodburn is featuring Kathy Stemke
21st Maggie Ball is featuring Martha Swirzinski
22nd Heather Paye is featuring Kevin McNamee
23rd Debra Eckerling is featuring Carolyn Howard-Johnson
24th Kevin McNamee is featuring Lea Schizas
25th Janet Ann Collins is featuring Marvin Wilson
26th Katie Hines is featuring Nancy Famolari
27th Brigitte Thompson is featuring Stephen Tremp
28th Marietta Taylor is featuring Kari Wolfe
29th Mayra Calvani is featuring Maggie Ball

So, you can see we have new, experienced, and even famous authors in our mix, so be sure to stop by each day for a visit.

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

Author, Writer-for-Hire, Freelance Writer

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

http://dkvwriting4u.com

http://nothingventurednothinggained.org

http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com

Posted in Writing - Tagged book updates, marketing information, writers' tour, writing information

Writing to Get Published

Mar27
2010
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All writers have one primary focus—to get published. What makes each of us different is our slant or perspective on the story we’re telling, and how we tell it.

It’s true that anyone can write, but writing to get published is another story. To accomplish this, there four steps you need to include in your writing.

1. Write an out-of-the-ballpark beginning

This is the crucial step that will determine whether the agent or editor keeps reading. Your beginning needs to grab the reader; it needs to lead the reader on without him having to think about it.

Here are different slants on a possible beginning:

A. Jan saw blood dripping down the wall. She screamed.

This idea is a beginning that might entice a reader to read on, but the problem is it’s telling not showing. To add showing:

B. Blood slowly dripped down the stark white wall, adding to the puddle already formed on the floor. Jane felt a quiver run down her spine. Reacting before thinking of the consequences, a blood curdling scream issued from the depths of her being.

C. Blood slowly dripped down the stark white wall. A quiver ran throughout Jane’s body. An urgent eruption welled up from the depths of her being and brought forth a blood curdling scream.

D. Blood slowly dripped down the stark white wall, adding to the dark red puddle already formed on the floor. A quiver ran throughout Jane’s body creating an urgent eruption that welled up from the depths of her being—a blood curdling scream issued forth.

Examples B, C and D do a much better job of showing rather than telling. While they can easily be taken apart and reworded for tightness, more description or less description, whatever the author deems necessary, for this article they serve their purpose.

And remember, using descriptive words and adverbs adds to the word count. So, analysis each word you use; be sure they enhance the story and move it along, not weigh it down. In today’s writing world publishers and agents want tight writing.

2. The body of your story

This area needs to fulfill the beginning’s promise. It needs to keep the reader interested in the characters and plot—this will ensure the reader keeps turning the pages. You also need to keep track of everything going on in the story and follow through. Readers don’t want to feel cheated or disappointed.

Some authors use character and event cards or sheets to keep track of each character’s qualities and the details to each event. This will guarantee continuity and help prevent loose ends.

3. Your ending

The ending must tie everything together and tie-up all loose ends. If you wrote a paragraph or chapter about John and Jane contemplating marriage then segue into something else, let the reader know how it ends up.
It’s also a plus if you can come up with a twist at the end, something the reader won’t expect.
But, keep in mind it’s essential that you leave the reader satisfied.

4. Submitting your work

You’ll never know if you’ve written the next best seller if you don’t submit your work. Research publishers and/or agents who work in the genre you write. Choose the ones that you think are the best fit and study their guidelines. Then, follow the guidelines and submit your work. Don’t let fear or uncertainty keep you from moving forward—nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Related articles:

Balance in Writing – The Major Elements

Be Specific and Professional When Submitting

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

http://dkvwriting4u.com

Visit http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com and sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter!

Posted in Writing - Tagged publishers, submissions, Writing

Review of Is There a Monster Over There?

Mar21
2010
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Title: Is There a Monster Over There?
Author and Illustrator: Sally O. Lee
Publisher: LeePublishing.net
ISBN: 1-4505-3102-4

With vivid and fanciful double-page illustrations, Is There a Monster Over There? is sure to grab the attention of children. This picture book addresses the fear some children have of unseen monsters lurking about. They may never see a monster, but that doesn’t stop them from being frightened.

Mabel searches all over her house for the monster’s hiding place. She looks under her bed, outside her window, and in her closet. Mabel is certain the monster is hiding and getting ready to pounce on her. Ah, the imagination of a child.

To read the rest of this review go to: The Muse Book Reviews

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

http://dkvwriting4u.com

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

Go to either of these sites and sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter!

Posted in Uncategorized - Tagged children's picture book, facing monsters, fiction, sally o. lee, The Muse Book Reviews

Showing vs. Telling Part 2

Mar17
2010
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I’ve written about showing and telling before, but it’s such an important topic that I think more information is always helpful. So, here’s Part 2:

Writing is an ongoing adventure . . . always something to learn and tweak and hone. I recently wrote a children’s story and found I still had a bit of showing in it, thanks to the critique by the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club with Suzanne Lieurance (more about the club below).

I was toying with the idea of submitting my story as a picture book, but was advised it would work out better as a children’s magazine article, unless I wanted to rewrite it specifically for as a picture book. Anyway, I noticed that when I write, and I think this goes for most of us, my thoughts precede my reading ability, so I don’t catch my own errors. This happens because I know what I wrote and what I intend to convey. This makes it almost impossible for a writer to edit her (or his) own work. You can get close, but as the saying goes, almost doesn’t cut it.

What do I mean? Well, let’s look at a simple sentence:

In a daze, Pete stumbled to his feet.

While this isn’t the exact sentence in my story, it is similar. I revised my article and reread it numerous times and didn’t notice that “in a daze” is telling, not showing. And, what’s the KEY to writing in today’s fast paced, no time to waste world? Focus and tight writing.

In fact, the fast paced reader of today is getting even more impatient and ready to move on in the blink of an eye. So, we need to take this into account in our writing and marketing.

Okay, back to the focus of the article . . .

So, how do we change the above sentence into a showing only sentence?

Dazed, Pete stumbled to his feet.

Really simple when you are able to actually read what is written rather than already know what you intended.

What are the important tips to take away?

1. Make sure you are part of a critique group

2. Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club if you are writing for children

3. Do not submit you work to a publisher or agent before you’ve had it edited.

To learn more about the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club check out this article:

How do You Learn to Write for Children?

Related Article:

Is Your Manuscript Ready for Submission?

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

http://dkvwriting4u.com

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

http://nothingventurednothinggained.org

Posted in Writing for Children - Tagged showing, telling, Writing, writing for children

Showing vs. Telling Part 1

Mar15
2010
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Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . we’ve all heard of, or read about the showing and telling aspect of writing: you must show, not tell. But, there are those out there just starting out and it’s a very important writing topic. So, I occasionally offer another post about it.

Showing vs. Telling: What exactly does it mean?

Let’s look at an example of telling:

April walked around in a daze. She felt awful. Her husband left her with two little ones. She cried and cried. She felt overwhelmed, but kept doing the things she had to do. It seemed as if her soul ached. She begged for God’s help. She felt like screaming.

Example of showing:

He wasn’t supposed to leave; we promised to stay married forever. April pulled the sheets from her bed and threw them to the floor. Doing the chores and taking care of the kids helped her hold on . . . she had to hold on.  How could he leave? Tears trickled down her cheeks. She bent forward with her head in her hands. Please, God, bring him home…please…please help me. Sobbing softly in her hands her body began to tremble; then the tears gushed forth. An indescribable ache took hold – in the very depths of her soul – an ache in a place never felt before. A tortured scream crept up into her throat, ready to burst out. She fell to her knees and buried her face in the mattress. Grabbing a pillow, she pulled it over her head. A blood-curdling scream issued forth.

So, that’s the difference.

I made the telling example very basic so you could easily see how they differ.

Showing lets the reader feel the protagonist’s pain, or joy, or excitement. It conveys through action and dialogue which creates a connection and prompts the reader to continue reading.

Sometimes it helps to draw from experiences to get the feeling and words you’re going for. You can also use tv or movies; watch and study scenes that depict the experience you need to convey. Then, write what you’ve seen.

If you need help with your writing, don’t know where to start,  or are in the final stages and need to have it edited or proofed, stop by DKV Writing 4 U.

You can also sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter over there. It offers writing and marketing tips, links, and more! AND, you get a free writing and/or marketing eBook for subscribing!

You might find this article of interest also:

Article Directories and Ghostwriters: Strategies to Save You Time

Until next time,
Karen

Posted in Writing - Tagged DKV Writing 4 U, effective writing, showing, telling, Writing

A Review: Who On Earth is Rachel Carson?

Mar12
2010
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You know, part of learning to write is to read, especially in the genre you want to write. Here’s a great book for children and adults . . . read away!

Title: Who On Earth is Rachel Carson?
Author: Glenn Scherer and Marty Fletcher
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 13: 978-1-59845-116-0
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Reviewed by Karen Cioffi

I’m a conservationist and environmentalist, so when I read Who On Earth is Rachel Carson? I was extremely interested to learn that this scientist and author was one of the founders of the environmental movement. And, she helped start this important movement when it was uncommon for women to be scientists, let alone initiators of a new awareness of a dangerous issue affecting Earth.

Having struggled to achieve success as a naturalist, marine biologist, and scientific author, in 1962 Carson deviated from her usual writing to undertake a fiction story that she later revealed was based on real events that were affecting our planet. The book was Silent Spring, and it was a ground breaker. For the first time, the masses were privy to what pesticides were doing to not only the land and animals, but to people also.

This was a time when pesticide manufacturers were though of as heroes, controlling nature. Scherer and Fletcher explain, “They [pesticide manufacturers] assaulted Carson’s book and also criticized her scientific facts and her character, calling her a “hysterical woman.” But, people took Carson’s words to heart, “the millions of people who read Silent Spring awoke to discover that the natural world was under assault by DDT and other chemical pesticides. Within a year, public outcry forced many states to begin regulating pesticides, with federal government following suit shortly.”

Who On Earth is Rachel Carson? is a valuable read for both children and adults. The authors present the information in an easy to read format and provide additional information about the introduction and promotion of pesticides. Along with this, the authors include a number of photographs of Carson and other relevant shots including marine life.

In a time when the young perceive heroes as singers, actors, and celebrities, Who On Earth is Rachel Carson? is a valuable book that teachers and parents can introduce to children to provide insight into what a real hero does. What I especially think is an important aspect of this book is it shows the power of one.

While this review is based on a review copy provided by Enslow Publishers, it was accepted without guarantee or assumption of the preparation a favorable or unfavorable review.

Other articles of possible interest:

Review of The World’s Easiest Astronomy Book

Learn to Write for Children

Karen Cioffi

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

http://dkvwriting4u.com

AND, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER PAGES HERE! THERE ARE SOME GREAT OFFERS AND BOOKS!

Posted in Writing - Tagged children's book, Enslow Publishers, envirnomentalist, marine biology, nonfiction, Rachel Carson, science

Subscribing to Websites and Blogs

Mar08
2010
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If you sign up or subscribe to a site’s newsletter, whether for a free ebook or for the free monthly newsletter, watch out for the confirmation email!

A Little Insight into Subscribing to Sites:

I review my autoresponder service periodically and most recently I noticed there were eight subscribers to my blog who either never responded to the confirmation email or their email service bounced the confirmation. This has happened on my website subscriber box also.

I would think if you go to the trouble of subscribing to a site, there’s a reason. Unless, you subscribe to so many that you cannot keep track. But, then we go back to the aspect of taking the time to sign up – you must have wanted something.

When I find a site that provides valuable content and especially if they are offering an free useful ebook, I will subscribe to the newsletter. I do pay attention for the confirmation email to make sure I receive what I signed up for.

So, if you’ve signed up for a site’s newsletter, be sure to look out for the confirmation email because the autoresponder service cannot send any emails to you without it. If you’re not sure why you aren’t receiving the newsletter or the free gift, contact the site owner. Most sites should have an email address or contact page to make this convenient. Or, if you can’t find any contact information (which, again, all sites should have available) you can leave a comment on the most recent blog post mentioning you’ve signed up and seem to be haven’t a problem. All savvy bloggers (site owners) check their readers/visitors’ comments.

Another way to subscribe to sites is through their RSS or Atom feed. I do this with my yahoo account and I love it. I get the updated blogs of the sites I subscribe right on My Yahoo page. This is just a convenient method for me because I’m in and out of my Yahoo mail throughout each day. I scroll down my LONG list and, time allowing, visit the sites and comment. What’s great is if I don’t have the time for a visit, I am still able to read the new post right from my Yahoo subscriber list.

While this is an easy way to get updates of blog postings, you do miss out on the information and special offers that may only be available through the site’s newsletter which you can only get by signing up for it. I know I try to add links, tips and more  in my newsletter that I don’t post about.

The next issue I’ve noticed is that readers who subscribe to a newsletter often don’t even open it up, not even a quick glance to see if there is any valuable information. Now, I know time is an issue with all of us and some marketers have 90-95% of promotion and offers involving money rather than useful content, but you get to know quickly which newsletters or promotional emails this pertains to. All you have to do is unsubscribe to those sites.

Related Articles:

Marketers – Are They Wasting Our Time?

http://www.dkvwriting4u.com/2009/12/marketers-are-they-wasting-our-time/

Blogging Commenting Etiquette

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-is-blogging-commenting-etiquette.html

Writing, Publishing, and Marketing – You Can Do It!

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

http://dkvwriting4u.com

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

Posted in Marketing - Tagged confirm your subscription, subscribing to newsletters, subscribing to sites

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